Device for producing beverage by infusion

ABSTRACT

A device for the production of beverages such as coffee by infusion of a product contained in a tablet ( 2 ) includes an infusion chamber ( 1 ) adapted to receive a tablet ( 2 ) having two portions ( 3, 4 ) shaped to move toward or away from each other to close or open the infusion chamber ( 1 ), in which device only one of the portions has mobility and rotation so as to place the tablet ( 2 ) in abutment in the portion and that the portion ( 3 ) movable in rotation has mobility in translation to open or close the infusion chamber ( 1 ). The device includes additional elements for holding closed the two portions of the infusion chamber ( 1 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for production of beverages byinfusion from a product contained in a tablet.

It finds particular use in the field of the production of coffee fromground coffee prepackaged in tablets.

Such tablets are already known and are generally constituted in the formof an assembly of two sheets of filter paper providing an intermediatespace for packaging ground coffee.

Various machines for extracting hot beverages from ground coffee areknown.

Particularly, WO 00/38558 discloses an extraction chamber for anautomatic machine for the preparation of hot beverages, in which theextraction chamber is provided to receive tablets or pellets filled withground coffee.

The chamber is constituted in two parts, each movable in a horizontalplane so as to be able to move apart or toward one another.

Moreover, according to this document, the two portions are also movablein an oscillating manner.

A machine thus provided gives general satisfaction but requires drivingthe two constituent portions of the chamber.

It is thus necessary to provide a sufficiently powerful motor and asystem of power transmission that is relatively complicated, requiringthe synchronization of the movements.

There is also known from FR 2.745.995, an apparatus for the productionof beverages in which the infusion chamber is constituted by two halfrecesses, one carried by one surface of the body of the apparatus, theother fixed on a surface of the heater, these two surfaces facing eachother.

The infusion chamber is formed when the two half recesses meet.

Disassembly of the chamber takes place by a translatory movement of oneof the recesses.

The apparatus thus constituted requires the association of differentabutment means ensuring the retention of the tablet at the time ofsupply, then during its entry into the infusion chamber.

A movement of the abutment means is also necessary to ensure theejection of the used tablets.

The prior art disclosed by this reference requires the separateprovision of abutment means and ejection means for the tablets.

There is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,093 a coffee machine for tabletsin a strip in which the infusion chamber comprises a portion movable inrotation and translation by means of a member forming a cam. In additionto the fairly complicated nature of the emplacement and injection of thetablets, this document has a complicated and cumbersome actuationnecessarily requiring the provision of the sealing of the chamber bymeans of the cam system.

EP 1 153 561 discloses a coffee machine for a capsule having a movablecap to open or close the infusion chamber. A complicated system is alsoprovided to apply the capsule in a gripped fashion.

Given the present actuation of infusion chambers, the means for movingthe portions of the chamber must be designed to be heavy andcomplicated, in particular to ensure the sealing in the closed position.It is thus necessary to take into account the fact that a machine of theespresso type produces hot water at a pressure often of the order of 15bars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention permits overcoming these drawbacks.

For this purpose, it provides a device for the improved production ofbeverages.

A first advantage of the invention is permitting the carrying out of theopening and closing phases of the infusion chamber as well as theperformance of the introduction and injection phases of tablets, bymeans of a smaller number of movements and in particular by the combinedmovement of rotation and translation of only one of the constituentparts of the chamber.

Another advantage of the invention is not requiring, in a preferredembodiment, but a single drive means for the movement of rotation andmovement of translation, thereby ensuring synchronization reliably andat least cost.

According to a preferred modification, the invention is such that it canbe used and actuated by a user by pulling a lever.

The use of the device provided here can thus be compared to that of aconventional machine having a filter door with a handle, thus providingthe extraction phases of the beverage in an automatic manner.

An additional gripping means functions as a supplement to ensure or toperfect the sealing of the chamber in the lixiviation position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the descriptionwhich follows, of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which ishowever not limiting.

The present invention relates to a device for the production ofbeverages by infusion from a product contained in a tablet, comprisingan infusion chamber adapted to receive a tablet and comprising twoportions arranged to move toward or away from each other to close oropen the infusion chamber, the device being such that a single one ofthe portions has mobility in rotation adapted to place the tablet inabutment in said portion and that the portion movable in rotation hasmobility in translation to open or close the infusion chamber,characterized by the fact that it comprises additional means for holdingclosed the two portions of the infusion chamber.

According to preferred modifications, the device is such that:

-   -   the additional closure means are means for moving in translation        the portion fixed in rotation,    -   the movement means are constituted by a jack,    -   the jack is hydraulic and supplied by the heater supplying the        infusion chamber,    -   the jack chamber is formed between a surface of the heater and a        movable member secured to the portion fixed in rotation of the        infusion chamber, the surface comprising a supply outlet for hot        water,    -   it comprises a resilient membrane for sealing between said        surface and said movable member to close in a sealed fashion the        jack chamber,    -   the movable member comprises a supply passage of the infusion        chamber formed between the jack chamber and a spray present on        the portion fixed in rotation,    -   the supply passage has a valve arranged to open the supply        passage from a pressure greater than the working pressure of the        jack,    -   it comprises a return spring for the movable member of the jack,    -   it comprises a common drive member for mobility in rotation and        mobility in translation of the movable portion,    -   the drive means is a cam having:    -   a first external bearing surface for a translatory member        coupled to the movable portion;    -   a second external bearing surface for an end of a pivoting arm        coupled to the movable portion;    -   the cam is actuated in rotation by a lever,    -   the common drive means comprises a rotatable drive shaft coupled        to the movable portion by at least one rod pivotally mounted        between said drive shaft and said movable portion,    -   it comprises a translatory member secured to the movable portion        in its movement of translation and relative to which it is        movable in rotation,    -   it has guide means in translation for the translatory member,    -   the shaft is actuated in rotation by a lever,    -   it comprises guide means for the tablet,    -   the guide means comprise a slide way with at least one groove        adapted to receive the periphery of a tablet,    -   the guide means are mounted in translation to follow the        movement of the parts moving toward or away from each other,    -   the movement of the movable portion is configured to face the        fixed portion in a parallel manner before coming into contact,        during the phase of closing the infusion chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are given by way of example and are notlimiting of the invention. They show only an embodiment of the inventionand will permit easy comprehension of it.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the device according to a firstembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is another cross-sectional view of a different configuration ofthe infusion chamber.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device according to the invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively top plan and front views.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device during a phase of extractionof coffee.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device in the position of changing atablet.

FIG. 8 shows schematically the phases of movement of the deviceaccording to the invention.

FIGS. 9 to 12 and 9 bis, 10 bis show four successive steps in theoperation of the device.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show in side view the translatory movement of the guidemeans.

FIG. 15 is a general perspective view of the device of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are respectively side and longitudinal cross-sectionalviews of the device of the invention in the position of supplyingtablets.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are respectively side and cross-sectional views of thedevice of the invention in a position of receiving tablets in theinfusion chamber.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are respectively side and longitudinal cross-sectionalviews of the device of the invention in the extraction position.

FIG. 23 shows in fragmentary cross-section the device with a preferredembodiment of the additional means for closing in the rest position.

FIG. 24 shows an active closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, the device according to the invention has ina conventional manner a heater 9 adapted to supply the infusion chamber1 with hot water for the extraction of the material contained in thetablet and particularly of the ground coffee.

As shown in FIG. 2, a water circuit 10 is present through the devicewith a portion 11 for admission of hot water into the infusion chamber 1and an outlet portion 12 opening into a trough 13 pouring the beverageinto a funnel 14 to the receptacle of the user.

As shown in FIGS. 1-14, the end portions of this circuit can beconstituted in the external form of a conventional filter doorcomprising a handle here shown by the lever 15 and a portion forming afunnel 14.

The tablets used for the operation of the present invention could be ofa type now available on the market.

Preferably, but in a non-limiting way, there could be used tablets 2comprising a substantially flat and rigid periphery ensuring holding theshape of the tablet.

The infusion chamber 1 is constituted by two portions 3, 4 adapted to bebrought together to close the chamber 1 as is seen in FIG. 2 or movedapart to open it as seen in FIG. 1.

Preferably, and in the rest of the description, it is the portion 3which moves in translation to move toward or away from the other portion4.

Moreover, the portion 3 is given a rotative movement over a limitedpath, to pass between various positions during operation.

In a preferred manner, there is used a same drive means to ensure thetranslation and the rotation of the movable portion 3.

There will be described hereafter successively two modified embodimentsof this drive means.

First Embodiment

See FIGS. 1 to 14.

There is shown by way of example in FIG. 2, the position of the axis 8of rotation of the movable portion 3 and the axis 7 of its translation.

For what follows in the description and with reference to the drawings,there will be shown a horizontal extraction means (in which the tabletis positioned substantially vertically and receives hot water in asubstantially horizontal circuit).

However, other orientations are possible without departing from thescope of the invention.

The single drive means could be constituted by a cam 16 actuated inrotation and having an external surface comprising two portions.

A first portion of the external surface 17 of the cam 16 ensures thebearing of the cam against a translatory member adapted to transmit themovement of translation of the movable portion 3.

The second external surface of the cam 16, shown at 18, in FIG. 1,ensures the bearing of one end of the pivoting arm 19 whose pivotalmovement is transmitted to the movable portion 3 to carry out itsrotation.

The coupling between the pivoting arm 19 and the movable portion 3 couldbe carried out by means of a finger 18 inserted in a fork 23 of themovable part, as shown in FIG. 1.

The pivotal axis of the pivoting arm 19 is provided by a coupling member21 also shown in FIG. 1 and indicated in FIG. 2.

It is this coupling member which drives in rotation the movable member 3by bearing on the cam 16.

Other means for transmission of movements of rotation and translation tothe movable portion 3 may also be envisaged.

Preferably, the pivoting arm 19 comprises an extension forming a pathlimiter 20 and adapted to come into abutment with an abutment surfacewhen a predetermined angular position of the movable portion 3 isreached.

Such is the case in the upwardly open bearing position of the infusionchamber 1.

According to a first possibility, the cam 16 is driven in rotation by amotor.

According to a second possibility, shown in the drawings, the driving inrotation of the cam 16 is carried out by the pressure of a lever 15which can be actuated by the user.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show two positions of the lever 15.

In the case of FIG. 7, the position of the lever 15 is such that itcauses a position of the cam 16 substantially corresponding to theoperating phase of FIG. 1.

In this case, the movable portion 3 is inclined downwardly to provide anabutment surface 6 in its upper portion to coact with the external lowersurface of the tablet 2.

The surface 6 thus constitutes an abutment in the supply phase of thetablet 2.

According to the position of the lever 15 shown in FIG. 6, the cam 16has caused a rotation to reach the operating position shown in FIG. 2,and in which the infusion chamber 1 is closed in the extractionposition.

The path of the lever 16 can be limited in rotation by means of anabutment 28 of current designed for example, in the form of a fingeradapted to move in an oblong hole secured to the chassis of the device.

To ensure or to optimize the sealing of the infusion chamber 1 in theclosed position, it is preferable to add to the closing pressure causedby the user by means of the lever 15, an additional pressure.

In this case, an additional means for holding closed the two portions 3,4 of the infusion chamber 1 is constituted by a supplement, as will bedescribed more precisely in what follows.

Preferably, the device also comprises guide means for the tablet 2during its movement during operating phases.

In this case, guide means could be provided in the form of a slide way25 constituted by two grooves 26 adapted to embrace the periphery of thetablet 2.

The periphery of said tablet 2 can be inserted into each of the grooves26 thus constituted.

Guide means are preferably mounted in translation to follow the movementapart and together of the two portions.

In this sense, these means have a movement coupled to that of thetranslatory member 21 by means of pusher 31 shown particularly in FIG.7.

The pusher 31 comprises a portion with a gap 32 adapted to constitutetwo bearing portions of the pusher 31 on a corresponding surface of theguide means.

In this way, the movement of the guide means follows that of thetranslatory member 21 in the course of the operating phases.

Moreover, the vacuum between the two bearing surfaces formed by the gap32 ensures retardation in the movement of the guide means adapted toensure first of all an advance of the movable portion 3 alone, and thena joint advance of the guide means and the movable portion 3 toward thefixed portion 4.

The pusher system thus constituted can be made in a guided manner abouttwo lateral guides 30 a, 30 b ensuring the guidance and translation ofthe movable members and the coherence of the constituent pieces of thedevice.

The phases of operation of the present invention are more particularlyshown in FIGS. 8 to 14.

FIG. 8 schematically shows the different mobilities of the portion 3 andthe infusion chamber 1.

In this case, the arrows schematically show the translation adapted tobe carried out by the movable portion 3 under the influence of the cam16.

Cross-sections A-A and B-B in FIG. 8 show moreover in a schematic mannerthe provision of the cam 16 and particularly the formation of twoexternal bearing surfaces 17 and 18.

The surface 18 is adapted to receive the end of the pivoting arm 19.

With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 and 9 bis, 10 bis, four successive stepsof operation of the invention are shown.

In FIG. 9, the cam 16 has been actuated to cause rotation of the movableportion 3, tending to open it to receive a tablet 2.

The upper portion of the movable portion 3 being out of the way, thefeed abutment surface 6 formed until now at this point, is retracted andlets the tablet 2 fall by gravity.

The latter is then received by the movable portion 3 in its internalvolume and it is applied against the surface 5 constituting a receptionabutment.

Further rotation of the cam 16 gives rise to translation of the movableportion 3 which is shown in FIG. 10.

However, the movable portion 3 also continues its rotation so as toreach a position substantially parallel to that of the fixed portionbefore the translatory movement places them into contact. This is shownin FIGS. 9 bis and 10 bis. In this way, the arrival of the movableportion 3 takes place in an optimum manner, over all the contact surfaceof the two portions 3, 4 in the closed position.

As soon as the infusion chamber is closed, the hot water is injectedinto the infusion chamber along the path of the hollow arrows shown inFIG. 10.

The beverage is recovered in the through and then in the funnel.

As soon as brewing is completed, a reverse movement of the cam 16 causesrecoil of the movable portion 3 and its pivoting in the trigonometricdirection.

The movable portion being out of the way, the tablet 2 can be freed andfall by gravity to a recovery zone.

The thus-pivoted position of the movable portion 3 downwardly ensuresthe formation again of the abutment surface 6 for supply in the upperportion of the movable portion 3.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show in a side view the provision of the translatorymovement of the guide means when the latter are present.

In this case, there is seen the pusher 31 adapted to cause the advanceof the guide means 25 to the extent of the advance of the movableportion 3.

The gap 32 present on the pusher 31 however ensures retardation in thetranslation of the guide means 25.

FIG. 14 shows the end of the discharge of the tablet 2 which takes placeas soon as the movable portion 3 is retracted and while the guide means25 are still in position.

Once the tablet is discharged, the guide means 25 undergo in turn atranslation in the direction indicated by the hollow arrow.

The retraction taking place during translation of the guide means 25ensures the good freeing of the tablet 2 before return to the completeinitial position of the device.

Second Embodiment

Another actuation mode is presented here with reference to FIGS. 15 to22.

There is shown by way of example, in FIG. 18, the position of the axis 8of rotation of the movable portion 3 and the axis 7 of its translation.

The single drive means is constituted by a drive shaft 33 with ahorizontal axis of rotation and adapted to cause the movements of themovable portion 3.

To do this, the shaft 33 coacts with at least one rod 34 a, 34 b butpreferably two rods.

As can be seen for example in FIG. 18, the rod 34 a, 34 b is mounted inpivotal connections 36, 37 on the one hand on shaft 33 and on the otherhand on the rear end of the movable portion 3.

A translatory member 21 is also provided to follow the translatorymovement of the movable portion 3 and to ensure the pivotal articulationabout axis 8 of said movable portion 3.

The translation of the member 21 is moreover guided by guide means whichcould be constituted by two lateral guides 30 a, 30 b as is seen in FIG.16.

According to a first possibility, the shaft 33 is driven in rotation bya motor.

According to a second possibility, shown in the drawings, the rotationaldrive is effected by the force of a lever 15 that can be actuated by theuser.

In this case, the movable portion 3 is inclined downwardly to provide anabutment surface 6 in its upper position to coact with the lowerexternal surface of the tablet 2.

The surface 6 thus constitutes an abutment in the supply phase of thetablet 2.

To optimize the sealing of the effusion chamber 1 in the closedposition, it is preferably to add to the closing pressure provided bythe user by means of the lever 15, an additional pressure.

In this case, an additional gripping means to close the two portions 3,4 of the infusion chamber 1 is constituted supplementally as describedlater.

Preferably, the device also comprises guide means for the tablet 2during its movement during the operating phases.

In this case, guide means can be provided in the form of a slide way 25constituted by two grooves 26 adapted to encase the periphery of thetablet 2.

The periphery of said tablet 2 can be inserted in each of the grooves 26thus provided.

Guide means are preferably mounted for translation to follow themovement toward and away from each other of the two portions.

In this sense, these means have a movement coupled with that of thetranslatory movement 21 by means of pushers 31 shown particularly inFIG. 17.

The pusher 31 comprises a recess portion 32 adapted to constitute twobearing portions of the pusher 31 on a corresponding surface of theguide means.

In this way, the movement of the guide means follows that of thetranslatory member 21 in the course of the operating phases.

Moreover, the vacuum constituted between the two bearing surfaces formedby the gap 32 ensures a retardation in the movement of the guide meansadapted to ensure first of all an advance of the movable portion 3alone, then a joint advance of the guide means and of the movableportion 3 toward the fixed portion 4.

The pusher system thus constituted can be provided in a guided fashionabout two lateral guides 30 a, 30 b ensuring the guidance in translationof the movable members and the cohesion of the constituent members ofthe device.

The phases of operation of the present device are more particularlyshown in FIGS. 17 to 22 and permit the carrying out of the steps ofproduction of the beverage with the same modifications of configurationof the infusion chamber 1 as in the case of the first embodiment.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show a first operating position of the device in whichthe tablet 2 is in the abutment position on the upper wall of themovable portion 3.

The lever 15 it itself in a predetermined angular position, vertical inthis case.

An actuation of the lever 15 in the trigonometric direction permitsarriving at the position shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 in which the tablet 2is received in the movable portion 3.

Between these two phases of movement, the drive shaft 33 has carried outa pressure of the rod 32 a against the rear portion of the movableportion 3 and has particularly caused a rotation of the movable portionin the clockwise direction.

Continuing the rotation of the lever 15, the shaft 33 gives rise to asupplemental pressure on the movable portion 3 by means of rods 34 a, 34b, this supplemental pressure tending to cause translation of themovable portion 3 and it closure to constitute the extraction chamber 1.

There can be provided abutment surfaces particularly on the translatorymember 21 to limit the angular movement of the movable portion 3.

Thus, in the position shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the movable portion 3closes the extraction chamber 1.

When the infusion chamber is closed, hot water is injected into theinfusion chamber.

The beverage is recovered in the trough 13.

When brewing is completed, a reverse movement of the shaft 33 causesretraction of the movable portion 3 and its pivoting in thetrigonometric direction.

The movable portion being out of the way, the tablet 2 can be freed andfall by gravity toward a recovery zone.

The thus-pivoted portion of the movable portion 3 downwardly ensures theformation once more of the abutment surface 6 for supply in the upperportion of the movable portion 3.

FIGS. 17, 19 and 21 show in side view the provision of the translatorymovement of the guide means when these latter are present.

To this end, the pusher 31 is shown, adapted to cause the advance of theguide means 25 with the advance of the movable portion 3.

The gap 32 present on the pusher 31 however ensures a retardation in thetranslation of the guide means 25.

The end of the evacuation of the tablet 2 takes place when the movableportion 3 is retracted and when the guide means 25 are still inposition.

In the two embodiments thus provided, the actuation can take placemanually by the action of a handle or a lever. The sealing is ensured orimproved by additional gripping means. There is thus obtained a machineof lightweight design whilst maintaining its efficiency and inparticular a good sealing.

There will now be described a preferred embodiment of the additionalgripping means, more particularly with reference to FIGS. 23 and 24.

In the case shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the additional gripping meansensure movement over a short translatory path, of the portion 4 fixed inrotation. In this way, when the movable portion 3 has reached theclosure position of the infusion chamber 1, this movement of short pathin translation permits ensuring or augmenting the relative pressure ofthe two portions 3, 4 at the region of the peripheral zone of the tablet2. There is thus created a peripheral sealing zone 49 particularly shownin FIG. 24.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the translatory movement meansare provided by a jack 38 in this case implanted conventionally in thedevice. Thus, the jack 38 is hydraulic and supplied by the same sourceas the infusion chamber 1, namely the heater 9. In this way, theadditional gripping means do not require the provision of anotherhydraulic circuit.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the piston element of the jack 38 isprovided by a movable member 41 secured to the portion 4 fixed inrotation so as to permits its advance or retreat according to theactivation position of the jack 38. The fluid under pressure (inparticular hot water from the heater 9) is adapted to be received in achamber 39 to provide the pressure of the movable member 41. The chamber39 is formed between the movable member 41 and a surface 40 of theheater 9, the surface 40 comprising preferably a slight depressionpermitting the formation of a sufficient volume for the chamber 39.

At the surface 40, the heater 9 comprises an outlet 42 permitting thearrival of hot water into the chamber 39.

To ensure the sealed closure of the chamber 39 of the jack 38, sealingmeans are present. They can be constituted by joints but preferably bythe action of a resilient sealing member 43 against visible in FIGS. 23and 24.

The elastic sealing member is formed by a substantially annular memberconnected securely and sealingly by its external periphery to thesurface 40 of the heater and by its internal periphery to the movablemember 41. The elastic sealing membrane 43 deforms according to thecondition of actuation of the jack 38.

It will be easily understood that, when hot water is admitted into thechamber 39 from the heater 9, the volume of the chamber 39 tends toincrease and a pressure is applied to the corresponding surface of themovable member 41. This pressure gives rise to movement of the movablemember 41 and accordingly the advance of the portion fixed in rotation4. This advanced condition is shown in FIG. 24. In this case, grippingis carried out.

In this condition, the hot water can be injected into the portion 4 soas to produce forced brewing in the infusion chamber 1. This injectiontakes place through a spray 48 of conventional design constituting aninternal cladding of the portion 4.

The injection of hot water into the infusion chamber 1 is carried out bymeans of a supply passage 44 placing the chamber 39 of the jack 38 intocommunication with the spray 45. To avoid circulation of water towardthe spray 45, both in the rest position of the gripping means and in theopen position of the infusion chamber 1, the invention provides anadvantageous supplemental characteristic.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the supply passage 44 comprises avalve 46 configured to open the supply passage 44 only beyond a pressurethreshold of a value higher than the working pressure of the jack 38.

In this way, the addition of hot water into the chamber 39 from theoutlet 42 of the heater 9 gives rise, in a first instance, to theactuation of the jack 38 and the advance of the portion 4 to produceadditional gripping.

Then, when gripping is obtained, the pressure continues to increase inthe volume 39 to reach a level ensuring the movement of the valve 46 toopen the supply passage 44 and to produce the injection of hot waterinto the infusion chamber 1.

By way of example, it is possible to adjust the pressure thresholdtriggering the valve 46 to a level of the order of 2 bars. Thisadjustment can be carried out by the choice of the spring 48 ensuringreturn to the rest position (closed) of the valve 46.

When the injection of water into the infusion chamber 1 is over, theadmission of hot water into the chamber 39 is stopped so as to producethe return to the rest position of the jack 38. This return can becarried out by means of the resilient properties of the membrane 43.Moreover, a return spring 47 is also provided for this purpose.

In this way, during manual actuation, the user need only carry out anactuation of a limited force to place in the closed position or openposition the infusion chamber 1. When closure is carried out manually,the additional gripping means ensure a perfect sealing of the infusionchamber 1, at the peripheral sealing zone. Brewing can then take place,and this with pressures that can correspond perfectly to the pressuresof machines of the espresso type and in particular of the order of 15bars.

Without recourse to these additional gripping means, it would be foreverdifficult for the user to ensure manually the sufficiently tight closureof the infusion chamber 1 to operate at such pressure levels.

REFERENCES

-   1. Infusion chamber-   2. Tablet-   3. Movable portion-   4. Fixed portion-   5. Reception abutment-   6. Supply abutment-   7. Translatory axis-   8. Rotational axis-   9. Heater-   10. Water circuit-   11. Inlet-   12. Outlet-   13. Trough-   14. Funnel-   15. Lever-   16. Cam-   17. First surface-   18. Second surface-   19. Pivoting arm-   20. Path limiter-   21. Translatory member-   22. Finger-   23. Fork-   25. Slide way-   26. Groove-   27. Periphery of tablet-   28. Abutment-   29. Cam axis-   30 a, 30 b. Lateral guides-   31. Pusher-   32. Gap-   33. Drive shaft-   34 a, 34 b. Rod-   35. Pivotal connection on the shaft-   36. Pivotal connection on the movable portion-   37. Coupling member-   38. Jack-   39. Jack chamber-   40. Surface-   41. Movable member-   42. Outlet-   43. Membrane-   44. Supply passage-   45. Spray-   46. Valve-   47. Return spring-   48. Spring-   49. Region of peripheral sealing

1. A device for the production of beverages by infusion of a productcontained in a tablet, comprising: an infusion chamber (1) adapted toreceive a tablet (2) and comprising two portions (3, 4) that are movabletoward or away from each other to close or open the infusion chamber,only one of the two portions being movable in rotation and adapted tocome into abutment with the tablet in the other of the two portions, theone portion movable in rotation also being movable in translation toopen or close the infusion chamber, the other of the two portions beingfixed in rotation and movable in translation; a hydraulic jack connectedto and moving in translation the other portion that is fixed in rotationto press closed the two portions of the infusion chamber (1); and aheater supplying a same fluid to both said infusion chamber and saidhydraulic jack.
 2. A device for the production of beverages by infusionof a product contained in a tablet, comprising: an infusion chamber (1)adapted to receive a tablet (2) and comprising two portions (3, 4) thatmove toward or away from each other to close or open the infusionchamber, only one of the two portions being movable in rotation and intoabutment with the tablet in the other of the two portions, the oneportion movable in rotation also being movable in translation to open orclose the infusion chamber; a heater providing a fluid to said infusionchamber; a hydraulic jack (38) pressing closed the two portions of theinfusion chamber (1) by moving in translation the other portion that isfixed in rotation, said jack being supplied by said heater (9); and saidjack having a chamber (39) between a surface (40) of the heater (9) anda movable member (41) secured to the portion fixed in rotation (4) ofthe infusion chamber (1), the surface (40) comprising an outlet (42) forhot water from said heater.
 3. Device according to claim 2, furthercomprising a resilient sealing member (43) between said surface (40) andsaid movable member (41) to close in a sealed manner the chamber (39) ofthe jack (38).
 4. Device according to claim 2, wherein the movablemember (41) comprises a supply passage (44) of the infusion chamber (1)formed between the chamber (34) of the jack (38) and a spray (45)present on the portion fixed in rotation (4), and the supply passage(44) has a valve (46) adapted to open the supply passage (44) at apressure higher than the working pressure of the jack (38).
 5. Deviceaccording to claim 2, further comprising a return spring (47) for themovable member (41) of the jack (38).